IrishT wrote:Tiny Toy wrote:
Becoming obsolete before even being certified has to be a new level of military procurement incompetence. From
Jane's:
"...fusion deficiencies sometimes result in an inaccurate battlefield picture being presented to pilots. The USMC has created workarounds that allow pilots to safely fly the aircraft by making manual adjustments..."
"...certification of all 10 aircraft, a prerequisite for IOC, remains incomplete. Certification requires all the jets to carry the same mission software configuration. Also, the digital logistics and maintenance system - the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) - must be working satisfactorily. For now, mechanics have created a workaround using a laptop."
"...even after IOC, the F-35B will be limited to escort, armed reconnaissance, close air support (CAS), and interdiction missions. The aircraft will also be lacking wing pylons that would allow it to carry thousands of pounds of extra ordnance and a gun pod. It will also be unable to carry the full complement of air-launched weapons or to stream video, Lt Gen Davis said."
I'm not sure the General understands the idea of stealth (saying nothing of the fact it does have wing pylons, and why he thinks you'd use a stealth-aircraft for armed escorts as opposed to SEAD/DEAd).
It can have pylons, but external pylons and weapons carriage will only be released with Block 3F, as will gun employment. Block 2B and 3I only allow internal weapons. 2B and 3I were not originally intended to be used operationally.
As for the streaming video bit, the problem is that since ROVER did not even exist when the F-35 design was frozen, there currently isn't a video downlink capability planned (expected to be added with Block IV, unless an interim solution is adopted if requirement is assessed as urgent enough) but the aircraft can exchange still EOTS imagery with the JTAC. Not quite the same as full motion video, but it shouldn't be too dramatic. Even with 2B, for the USMC it'll be a marked step forwards in many ways from Harrier and Hornet. USN and USAF can mitigate the limitations considering that plenty of F-16s, Super Hornets and F-15s will be around for a long while still.
For the UK it is more of an issue, since mitigation will be wholly dependent on the Typhoon finally learning to mud move properly.